What Is An American?

National Review Online ^ | September 25, 2001 9:20 a.m. | Peter Ferrara

[GrandEagle]

You probably missed it in the rush of news last week, but there was actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper there an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American.

So I just thought I would write to let them know what an American is, so they would know when they found one.

An American is English…or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani, or Afghan.

An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan. The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them choose.

An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.

An American is from the most prosperous land in the history of the world. The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence, which recognizes the God-given right of each man and woman to the pursuit of happiness.

An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need. When Afghanistan was overrun by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country. As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan.

An American does not have to obey the mad ravings of ignorant, ungodly cruel, old men. American men will not be fooled into giving up their lives to kill innocent people, so that these foolish old men may hold on to power. American women are free to show their beautiful faces to the world, as each of them choose.

An American is free to criticize his government's officials when they are wrong, in his or her own opinion. Then he is free to replace them, by majority vote.

Americans welcome people from all lands, all cultures, all religions, because they are not afraid. They are not afraid that their history, their religion, their beliefs, will be overrun, or forgotten. That is because they know they are free to hold to their religion, their beliefs, their history, as each of them choose.

And just as Americans welcome all, they enjoy the best that everyone has to bring, from all over the world. The best science, the best technology, the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best athletes.

Americans welcome the best, but they also welcome the least. The nation symbol of America welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed.

These in fact are the people who built America. Many of them were working in the twin towers on the morning of September 11, earning a better life for their families.

So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did General Tojo and Stalin and Mao Tse-Tung, and every bloodthirsty tyrant in the history of the world.

But in doing so you would just be killing yourself. Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.

So look around you. You may find more Americans in your land than you thought were there. One day they will rise up and overthrow the old, ignorant, tired tyrants that trouble too many lands. Then those lands too will join the community of free and prosperous nations.

And America will welcome them.

[GrandEagle]

Got this in an e-mail today. I have no idea if its source and reason is true or not, but I thought it summed it up pretty good.

[dirtbiker]

Some ragheads may try, and some may even succeed in killing an American, and collecting the reward. But rest assured, that American didn't go down easy, and he didn't go down alone.......

[RunningJoke]

"Note also how perverse is the attitude of the weak toward their benefactors. They feel generosity as oppression; they want to retaliate. They say to their benefactors: "May the day come when you shall be weak and we will send bundles to America."
You do not win the weak by sharing your wealth with them; it will but infect them with greed and resentment. You can win the weak only by sharing your pride, hope or hatred with them."

[GrandEagle]

that American didn't go down easy, and he didn't go down alone.......
AMEN!
We may squabble among ourselves, but like a family, everyone else has to deal with ALL of us!

[GrandEagle]

You do not win the weak by sharing your wealth with them; it will but infect them with greed and resentment. You can win the weak only by sharing your pride, hope or hatred with them."
VERY well said..

[semaj]

A truly wonderful article. Thanks for the post.

[SwinneySwitch]

http://www.snopes.com/rumors/america2.htm

The "What is an American?" article quoted above was not penned by an Australian (or a dentist), but by Peter Ferrara, an associate professor of law at the George Mason University School of Law in Northern Virginia. Mr. Ferrara's commentary was originally published in the National Review on 25 September 2001.

[McGavin999]

That just gave me chills, it's so true.

[GrandEagle]

was not penned by an Australian (or a dentist),
Thanks for the correction.

[hoosiermama]

Thanks for sharing....have already passed it on!

[Weimdog]

The "What is an American?" article quoted above was not penned by an Australian (or a dentist), but by Peter Ferrara, an associate professor of law at the George Mason University School of Law in Northern Virginia. Mr. Ferrara's commentary was originally published in the National Review on 25 September 2001.

http://www.snopes.com/rumors/america2.htm

[southernnorthcarolina]

I'd be willing to bet, as the old metaphor says, "all the tea in China" that this isn't "authentic," and that the "Australian dentist" does not exist.

But, so what? Somebody wrote it, and wrote it very well.

I immediately thought of the 1973 commentary by Canadian broadcaster Gordon Sinclair; perhaps one of the most often repeated posts on Free Republic, but in case anyone missed it, here 'tis.

Great piece, regardless of its authenticity. Thanks for posting it.

[mirado]

How true that is. It could not have been better stated, and I agree 100%. It is for that very reason, among many others, I have always loved, respected and supported the US.

Estevan, Canada

[NMR Guy]

In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan.

Of course, that's not actually true. But it's still a nice article.

[RunningJoke]

It is a quote from "The Passionate State of Mind" written by Eric Hoffer. I think it is one of the best books ever written. Here's another:

"It has been often said that power corrupts. But it is perhaps equally important to realize that weakness, too, corrupts. Power corrupts the few, while weakness corrupts the many. Hatred, malice, rudeness, intolerance, and suspicion are the fruits of weakness. The resentment of the weak does not spring from any injustice done to them but from the sense of their inadequacy and impotence. They hate not wickedness but weakness. When it is in their power do so, the weak destroy weakness wherever they see it. Woe to the weak when they are preyed upon by the weak. The self-hatred of the weak is likewise an instance of their hatred of weakness."

[GrandEagle]

Thanks for the edit to correct the source.
I'll try and do my homework better next time!

[RightWhale]

Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.

Seems like a well-reasoned statement. Some day this planet will be known as Planet America and everyone will be Americans, and they will like it.

[DB]

The total population of Afghanistan is about 26 million.

So the statement probably isn't true, but it could be.

[GrandEagle]

The total population of Afghanistan is about 26 million.
Is that before or after our guys showed up? LOL!

[Huck]

Seems like a well-reasoned statement. Some day this planet will be known as Planet America and everyone will be Americans, and they will like it.

And I'll bet you when that day comes, the New York Yankees will still be the team to beat.